Avaliação por imagem das lesões da placa de crescimento / Imaging of growth plate injuries

As estruturas responsáveis pelo crescimento do osso incluem a fise (também chamada placa de crescimento) e as epífises. Afecções que acometem pacientes com o esqueleto imaturo, ou seja, com a placa de crescimento ainda aberta, podem interferir no crescimento ósseo, resultando em complicações como parada do crescimento, encurtamento dos membros ou deformidades angulares. Condições traumáticas que resultam muitas vezes em fraturas epifisárias são a causa mais comum das lesões da placa de crescimento. A avaliação cuidadosa desses pacientes pelos métodos de diagnóstico por imagem atualmente disponíveis, sobretudo a radiografia, a tomografia computadorizada e a ressonância magnética, permite o reconhecimento precoce do comprometimento das estruturas relacionadas ao crescimento ósseo, além de tratamento adequado, diminuindo a possibilidade do desenvolvimento de tais complicações.

The structures responsible for the growth of bones include the physis (also called growth plate) and the epiphysis. Affections involving patients with immature skeletons, i.e., with a still open growth plate, may affect the bone growth, resulting in complications such as growth arrest, limb shortening and angular deformities. Traumatic conditions, many times resulting in epiphyseal fractures, are the most frequent cause of growth plate injuries. A careful evaluation of these patients by means of currently available imaging methods, especially radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, allows an early diagnosis of the involvement of structures related to the bone growth, besides an appropriate management, reducing the probability of secondary complications.

Serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I and proteoglycan synthesis rates in young rats: a comparative study between the regional diet of Säo Paulo state and casein diets

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), also known as somatomedin-C, is an important mediator of growth regulation. Serum concentrations of IGF-I and proteoglycan synthesis rates in the tibial epiphysis, an estimate of the biological response to IGF-I in a target tissue, were compared in weanling Wistar rats fed ad libitum (group 1) and with 50% restriction (group 2) with the regional diet of Säo Paulo State (RDSPS--a mean diet consumed by low-income families with rice, beans, sugar, meat, milk, fruits and other vegetables) and in pair-fed animals fed with casein diets (groups 3 and 4). Data are reported as mean +/- SD for 8 rats in each group. Proteoglycan synthesis rates (cpm/mg) were significantly higher in rats fed with the RDSPS-based diet (groups 1 and 2: 210.8 +/- 58.8, 136.6 +/- 17.6) than in pair-fed animals fed with an 11% casein diet (groups 3 and 4: 62.9 +/- 11.6, 37.7 +/- 13.7) and in control animals fed ad libitum with a 20% casein diet (group 5: 58.1 +/- 22.7). Furthermore, these rates were higher in animals fed ad libitum than in those fed with the same diets but with 50% restriction. However, similar differences between groups 1 to 4 were not observed in serum concentrations (ng/100 microliters) of IGF-I (group 1: 44.1 +/- 7.1; group 2: 40.8 +/- 3.8; group 3: 46.0 +/- 3.6; group 4: 41.6 +/- 3.4, and group 5: 63.2 +/- 7.8). These results suggest that serum IGF-I levels are not reliable indicators of IGF-I status in this experimental model